Press releases
4 September 2006
Used Cars
Take the safest route to buying a used car with Consumer Direct South West.
With a noticeable increase in used car sales - research suggests that nearly 8 million used cars are sold in the UK each year, Consumer Direct is urging potential buyers to think carefully before making that purchase.
In the past 6 months, almost one in ten calls to Consumer Direct has been about car purchases – that’s almost 25,000 calls!
Whatever, the age or model, buying a car can be a complicated business and a big financial commitment as Mr and Mrs Griggs of Warminster found out...
'We bought a 4 wheel drive from a reputable dealer. However, on driving the vehicle home a rumbling and shaking noise became apparent. We took the vehicle back to the garage who provided us with a courtesy car for only one day. They held the vehicle for 2 weeks'.
Mr and Mrs Griggs continue...
'We rang Consumer Direct to see what our legal rights were. Consumer Direct provided us with clear practical advice and how to pursue it. We followed the advice and after a bit of deliberation from the dealer we received a full refund.
'If you have any problems and want to know what your legal rights, Consumer Direct are the people to contact. We are very grateful for their excellent advice.'
So before you make that purchase, for a used car, check Consumer Direct's Top Tips...
- Before you buy, decide how much you can afford. Include the cost of insurance, MOT, road tax, petrol, repairs and servicing. If you're taking out a loan, add up the repayments.
- Look at car magazines and price guides to see what is available and check the value of any car you want to trade-in.
- If you don’t know much about cars, it’s a good idea to take someone with you who does, or pay for an independent inspection by a professional mechanic or one of the motoring organisations.
- Shop around.
- If you are buying from a dealer, buy from a reputable one. Look for a trade association sign.
- Don't be afraid to haggle. Discounts are often available but it's up to you to get the price down as much as you can. Buying at a discounted price will not affect your legal rights.
- Before you commit to buying the car, make sure you fully understand the conditions of sale and any finance agreement, including deposit terms and interest charges.
For further information and advice on buying used cars, or for general information on consumer rights and how to gain redress when things go wrong, contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visit the website at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk.
